Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been discovered in a national park in northern Italy. The footprints, some measuring up to 40 cm (15 in) in diameter, are arranged in parallel rows and many exhibit clear traces of toes and claws.
Paleontologists believe the footprints belong to prosauropods—herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by long necks and small heads. “I never would have imagined I’d come across such a spectacular discovery in the region where I live,” remarked Milan-based paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso.
The find was made last September when a photographer spotted the footprints extending hundreds of meters along a vertical mountain wall in the Stelvio National Park, located northeast of Milan. At the time, this area was part of a tidal flat during the Triassic period but has since evolved into part of the Alpine range.
Dal Sasso noted that the dinosaur herds exhibited complex behaviors, such as gathering in circles, which might suggest defensive tactics. The prosauropods, reaching lengths of up to 10 meters (33 feet), left behind not only their footprints but also handprints at times, indicating they likely paused to rest.
Elio Della Ferrera, the photographer who reported the site, encouraged a reflection on our understanding of our environment, emphasizing how little we know about the regions we inhabit. He hopes this discovery will intrigue others to explore the scientific treasures hidden in their locales.
Considering the site’s inaccessibility, drones and remote sensing technologies will be employed for research. The Stelvio National Park, located in the Fraele Valley by the Italian-Swiss border, is poised for greater visibility as it will be near the venue for next year's Winter Olympics. The Italian Ministry of Culture remarked, 'It’s as if history itself wanted to pay homage to the greatest global sporting event, combining past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport.'
